According to Andy Martino of the Daily News, Mets officials have told him that Bobby Parnell has emerged as a “very strong frontrunner” to earn a one of the final spots in the Mets bullpen, and the team sees the only true competition between relievers as Miguel Batista versus D.J. Carrasco – with Batista holding an advantage and Carrasco a candidate to be traded.

Of the three, I never looked at Bobby Parnell as anything, but a virtual lock to make the bullpen out of spring training. Yes, they brought in Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch and Ramon Ramirez to cover the end-game relief duties, but I never thought for a second that it translated into Parnell being out of a job.

That said, I would think that Parnell would have much more value in a trade than D.J. Carrasco at this point. I’m not sure what the front office thinks they can get for Carrasco this close to Opening Day when most teams are already settled in, especially after the worst season in Carrasco’s career.

Carrasco, 35, is owed $1.2 million in 2012 and posted a 6.02 ERA last season in 49.1 mostly brutal innings of work.

The Mets believe some teams will be impressed with his strong two innings of work this spring.

In any event, the bullpen seems to be in the final stages of being sorted out and will possibly look like this: Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch, Ramon Ramirez, Tim Byrdak, Manny Acosta, Bobby Parnell and Miguel Batista.

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